Who knows the joy of raising a dog? But if we talk about the most annoying thing about raising a dog, dog hair loss is definitely in the top three! There is hair everywhere on the sofa, clothes, and floor, and the vacuum cleaner is almost exhausted. Especially when the seasons change, the hair loss is like snow! Don’t worry, this super detailed 2000+ word article will explain to you in plain language the reasons for dog hair loss, which breeds shed hair seriously, and super practical care methods to help you turn “hair” into “refreshing”! Whether you have a Corgi, Husky or Golden Retriever, these methods can come in handy!
Why do dogs shed so much hair?
It is normal for dogs to shed hair, but it is not normal if they shed too much. Only by understanding the reasons can we prescribe the right medicine. The following are common reasons for hair loss:
- Natural hair loss: Dogs shed their hair every spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November), with old hair falling off and new hair growing. Dogs with double coats like Huskies and Corgis lose a lot of hair when the seasons change!
- Dietary problems: Imbalanced nutrition, such as insufficient protein, fatty acids, and vitamins, will make the dog’s hair dry and easy to fall out. Cheap dog food has a lot of fillers, poor nutrition, and more serious hair loss.
- Skin problems: Skin diseases (such as fungal infections, mites) and allergies (food or environment) can cause local or systemic hair loss, accompanied by itching and erythema.
- Parasites: Fleas, ticks, and lice will make dogs scratch, causing more hair loss and may also cause skin inflammation.
- Stress or anxiety: Moving, the owner’s long-term absence, and environmental changes may make dogs anxious, and licking and scratching will increase hair loss.
- Health problems: Hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalance, adrenal disease, etc. can cause abnormal hair loss, usually accompanied by symptoms such as lethargy and changes in appetite.
- Improper care: Bathing too frequently, using human lotion, and not combing enough can damage the hair and cause more hair loss.
Tips: If the dog’s hair loss is accompanied by redness, itching, hair loss in clumps, or poor spirits, take it to the veterinary hospital for a check-up immediately, don’t delay!
Which dogs shed the most?
Some breeds are born “big hair losers”, so you must be mentally prepared before raising them:
- Double-coated breeds: Husky, Alaska, Corgi, Golden Retriever, Labrador, Samoyed. They have thick undercoats, and the hair loss is like a “blizzard” when the seasons change.
- Long-coated breeds: Pomeranian, Shepherd, Shih Tzu. Long hair is easy to tangle, and it will fall all over the place if it is not combed.
- Short-haired breeds that shed a lot: Shiba Inu, Pug. Don’t think that short-haired dogs don’t shed. Their hair is fine but abundant, and it’s even more annoying when it sticks to clothes!
Low-shedding breeds:
- Curly-haired dogs (such as poodles and bichon): The curly hair doesn’t shed, just trim it regularly.
- Hairless dogs (such as Chinese Crested Dogs): Almost no hair, but delicate skin.
- Short-haired low-shedding breeds (such as French bulldogs and Chihuahuas): Less hair, easy to clean.
If your dog is a big shedder, don’t panic, the following care methods can reduce hair loss by more than half!
Practical care methods: Make your dog shed less hair and have beautiful hair
Method 1: Comb your hair regularly to reduce hair accumulation
Why it works: Combing your hair can remove dead hair, prevent tangles, promote blood circulation in the skin, and make new hair grow better. How to do it:
- Choose the right tools:
- Short-haired dogs: Use a soft brush or rubber gloves (20-50 yuan) to gently remove dead hair.
- Long-haired dogs: Use a pin comb or detangling comb (50-100 yuan) to prevent hairballs.
- Double-coated dogs: Use a depilatory comb (such as FURminator, 200-300 yuan) to clean the bottom hair.
- Frequency: Comb once a day during the season change, 2-3 times a week at other times, 5-10 minutes each time.
- Skills: Comb gently in the direction of hair growth, don’t use too much force to hurt the skin. After combing, wipe with a wet towel to collect the scattered hair.
- Reward: Give some snacks (chicken jerky, 50 yuan/bag) when combing the hair, so that the dog feels that combing the hair is a pleasure.
Avoidance guide:
- Don’t use a human comb, the teeth are too dense and it will hurt the dog.
- Don’t pull hard on tangled hair, use detangling spray (30-50 yuan) to assist.
Method 2: Eat scientifically to grow healthy hair
Why it works: Healthy hair depends on nutrition, protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A/E, and zinc are the key. How to do:
- Choose high-quality dog food: Choose dog food containing meat (chicken, fish), and avoid cheap food with a lot of corn and wheat. Recommended brands: Royal (300-500 yuan/month), Imus (400-600 yuan/month).
- Nutrient supplement:
- Fish oil: Rich in Omega-3, improves hair gloss and reduces hair loss (Weiss fish oil, 50-100 yuan/bottle).
- Eggs: 1-2 boiled egg yolks per week to supplement protein and lecithin.
- Vegetables: Carrots, pumpkin (cooked and chopped), vitamin supplements.
- Feeding rules: 2-3 fixed meals a day, 3-4 meals for puppies. Don’t feed leftovers from people, as high salt content can damage the hair.
- Observe the stool: If the stool is formed and has no odor, it means that the dog food is suitable; if the stool is soft or smelly, the food may need to be changed.
Avoid pit guide:
- Change the food gradually, and mix it slowly for 7-10 days to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort.
- Don’t feed chocolate, grapes, and onions, which are toxic to dogs and hurt the skin.
Method 3: Bathing correctly to protect the skin barrier
Why it works: Bathing can clean the skin and remove dead hair, but bathing too frequently or using the wrong product will destroy the skin oil and increase hair loss. How to do it:
- Frequency: Short-haired dogs should be bathed once every 1-2 months, and long-haired or double-haired dogs should be bathed once or twice a month. The frequency can be slightly increased during the change of seasons.
- Pet shampoo: Choose a mild, sulfate-free dog shampoo (Vesco, 50-100 yuan). The pH value of human shampoo is not suitable and will dry the dog’s skin.
- Steps:
- Wet the hair with warm water (35-38℃).
- Apply the diluted shampoo and rub it gently for 2-3 minutes, avoiding the eyes and ears.
- Rinse and blow dry (use a pet hair dryer, 100-300 yuan), and don’t leave wet hair.
- Hair care products: Use pet hair conditioner (30-50 yuan) after washing to reduce hair dryness.
Avoid pit guide:
- Don’t use hot water, which will burn the skin and cause hair loss.
- If wet hair is not blown dry, it is easy to get skin diseases.
- If there are wounds or erythema on the skin, don’t take a bath first, go to the hospital for examination.
Method 4: Deworming + skin check, stay away from parasites and skin diseases
Why it works: Fleas, mites, and skin diseases are the culprits of hair loss. Regular deworming and inspection can prevent problems before they happen. How to do it:
- Internal deworming: Once a month, use a drug containing praziquantel (Bayer, 50-100 yuan/time).
- External deworming: Once a month, use drops (such as Advocate, 100-200 yuan/piece) or deworming collars to prevent fleas and ticks.
- Observe the skin: Check the dog’s skin every week. If there are red spots, dandruff, or hair loss, go to the pet hospital immediately.
- Allergy management: Dogs may be allergic to food (chicken, beef) or the environment (pollen, dust). Change to low-allergy dog food (such as Hill’s, 400-600 yuan/month) or add an air purifier (1,000 yuan+).
Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls:
- Use anthelmintics according to weight, buy regular brands, fake medicines will harm your dog.
- Don’t apply ointments randomly, which may aggravate skin problems.
Method 5: Stress relief + exercise to improve anxiety and hair loss
Why it works: Dogs under stress will lick and scratch their fur, causing hair loss. Exercise and companionship can help them relax.
How to do it:
- Increase exercise: Walk the dog 1-2 times a day, 20-30 minutes for small dogs and 40-60 minutes for large dogs. Playing frisbees and throwing balls can also consume energy.
- Educational toys: Food hiding balls (50-100 yuan) or KONG toys to distract the dog.
- Companion time: Spend 30 minutes playing and petting the dog every day to increase the sense of security.
- Environmental stability: When moving or adding a new pet, transition slowly and don’t let the dog get stressed.
Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls:
- Don’t increase the amount of exercise suddenly, the dog may be overtired.
- For dogs with severe anxiety (such as licking their fur until they are bald), consult a behaviorist or veterinarian.
Care points for dog breeds with severe hair loss
Husky/Corgi:
- Use a hair removal comb when the season changes, and comb for 10 minutes every day.
- Bathe once a month, and reduce to once every two months in winter.
- Add fish oil to improve the loss of undercoat.
Pomeranian/Long-haired Shepherd:
- Use a pin comb every day, focusing on combing the hair balls on the abdomen and legs.
- Monthly grooming (100-200 yuan), trim the hair to prevent tangles.
- Use hair conditioner to keep the hair smooth.
Shiba Inu/Pug:
- Comb 2-3 times a week with rubber gloves to remove dead hair.
- Deworm monthly, short-haired dogs are more likely to be targeted by fleas.
- Control indoor humidity to prevent dry skin.
Daily cleaning: Make your home less hairy
Even with adequate care, hair loss is inevitable. Here are some cleaning tips for keeping dogs in apartments:
- Vacuum cleaner: Choose one with strong hair suction power (Dyson, 2,000 yuan +), and vacuum 2-3 times a week.
- Hair remover: Use a hair roller (20-50 yuan) to remove hair on clothes and sofas.
- Deodorant spray: Use a pet-specific spray (30-50 yuan) to remove dog odors, and spray 1-2 times a week.
- Air purifier: Reduce floating hair and dandruff (1,000-3,000 yuan).
FAQ
- What should I do if my dog sheds hair in blocks and has red spots? It may be a skin disease or allergy. Go to the pet hospital for a skin scraping examination immediately, don’t delay.
- How long is it normal for hair loss to change seasons? Usually 2-4 weeks. If it exceeds 1 month or hair loss is abnormal, check for health problems.
- What should I do if my dog licks his hair and becomes bald? It may be anxiety or skin disease. Try to relieve stress with educational toys or consult a veterinarian.
- Do low-shedding breeds really not shed? Poodles and Bichon Frise shed less, but they also need to be combed and trimmed regularly, otherwise the hair will fall off.
Care carefully and your furry children will be more beautiful!
80% of dogs with severe hair loss can be improved through scientific care! Regular combing, high-quality diet, proper bathing, deworming inspection, and stress-relief exercise, these five tricks will ensure that your dog’s hair is shiny and your home is much fresher. Raising a dog is a technical job. Although the hair loss problem is annoying, as long as you are attentive, Husky can also become a “less hair king”!
If your dog has special hair loss, such as no care is effective, or you want to know the care skills of a specific breed, feel free to ask me and I will give you advice! I wish you and your furry children enjoy a “hairless” life!
